A Dragon for Aurelija

Chapter 23 The Lawyer

Charles was furious and he paced in front of the fireplace. His family lawyer had just left. Drusilla was sitting as he paced. "So the little slut did marry Nick," Drusilla said. "She told me they had already married. Shouted it to be more precise."

"Nick even managed to leave her a will. She never told me she was married."

"What are you going to do? The lawyer spoke to Aurelija too so she knows about the will too and her dowry."

"Witness can be bought off or silenced. But it may not matter. She has agreed to marry me so my plan is still in place, I'll just need to move faster. I'll order the staff to pack and we'll head to the estate by way of Gretna Green. Once we are married everything will be mine anyway."

"What about the mourning period," Drusilla asked.

"Damn that," Charles said, "We leave in two days even if I have to drag her."

Relly sat alone in her room. Nick had left her a will. Now she knew he was dead. She had been holding on to the faint hope that he was still alive. Count DeVoissier had been kind enough to inform the family lawyer. She still did not like DeVoissier but he had proved himself to be a man of honor. Even in his death Nick was trying to take care of her, to see that she would be okay. What had she gotten herself into consenting to Charles' proposal. He had been so kind to her and she was so desperate for kindness. She had always been the strong one, the one that stayed home to take care of Papa and Mama. The one to run the house and keep it going. And now the house was no longer hers, Nick was gone and she was truly alone. Charles claimed he loved her and she would come to him with property and a huge dowry so both would be giving something. With no good choices was this one to marry Charles such a bad one. "Why am I so afraid?" she asked herself.

Two days passed and Charles was in a bad temper. Relly was insisting on a mourning period before setting a date and Drusilla was pressuring him to just kill Relly or sell her to the brothel. Charles wanted Relly and had no qualms about forcing himself upon her but she was well liked by the staff and he was afraid they would protect her somehow. A scandal could ruin him if Relly would disclose anything about his grandmothers behavior. His grandmother was obviously mad and he was in a hurry to bed Relly. He had wanted her since they shared breakfast that first morning and she had become an obsession. Locking her away in the manor and using her for his personal pleasure was his most viable plan.

Charles ordered the hiring of a carriages for the trip to Gretna Green then the Hebrides and Edith to pack her and Relly's things for their move to the manor. Drusilla was shouting that Charles was not listening to her and had fallen victim to Relly's seductive charms. The entire house hold was busy loading the carriages with bags and luggage and Relly was refusing to go insisting on a proper mourning period when they all confronted each other at the top of the staircase.

"Charles please, I need more time. I just lost Nick I'm not ready," Relly pleaded.

"You've fallen for the little slut," Drusilla screamed, "you're just like your father, weak and useless. Let me sell her, she'll just disappear and we'll still keep her money." Charles had reached his breaking point. He shoved Drusilla aside and she toppled from the top of the stairs and shrieked as she fell. Relly rushed to her side but she was dead from a broken neck. Relly was surprised by Charles's violent behavior and terrified. Charles motioned for two men who would be riding with then to help Relly back to her room to get her cape. Relly recognized them at once. They were two of the men that tried to kidnap her.

"You!" Relly said looking at the men and then Charles, "you were behind my kidnapping. Are you also behind Nick's death? Why? I don't understand."

"Money, you have it and I want it," Charles said sneering, "you have something else I want and I will have it or you'll rue the day you refuse me." He turned to Edith, "Get her cloak, we must be off."

"Edith, please bring my fan too," Relly said sweetly.